RICHLAND COUNTY, S.C. — A former Richland County magistrate is speaking out for the first time since losing her job.
Former Richland County Magistrate Judge LaTonya B. Derrick was not reappointed to the bench after granting bond to a suspect charged in connection to the Meadowlake Park shooting here in Columbia.
On the morning of April 29, nine people were shot and two others were hurt in an incident at Meadowlake Park in Columbia.
Two juveniles have been charged with firing the shots that left several people wounded. Two others were arrested near the scene that night.
One of those arrested was 18-year-old Tyquan Kelly. Authorities said it was his third arrest this year.
Hours after the shooting, 18-year-old Tyquan Kelly appeared before Derrick. He was charged with the unlawful carrying of a weapon and simple possession of marijuana. Derrick granted Kelly a $10,000 bond.
What followed was outrage from law enforcement and local leaders, which resulted in Derrick being taken off the bench.
The reason, she says, has to do with the recent shooting at Meadowlake Park.
"I think it's fair to say that I've been put in a situation where I am a scapegoat," Derrick said.
Derrick knew Kelly from a previous court case but says at no time was she told he was arrested near the scene of the Meadowlake shooting.
"I read the Tyquan Kelly case and recalled setting bond for him on April 16, and I called the Solicitor's Office," Derrick said. "The on-call solicitor that day was Jack Jackson, and he indicated he did not want the case and bond should be set in Richland County bond court. So, under the advisement of the solicitor, I set the bond."
The bond was $10,000, but the Solicitor's Office says they didn't determine the amount.
In a statement to News19, 5th Circuit Solicitor Byron Gipson said:
“On April 29, 2023, Ty’Quan Kelly was charged with Simple Possession of Marijuana and Unlawful Carrying of a Pistol. A member of my staff received a call from the Magistrate’s Office that morning in reference to whether the presiding magistrate judge could set bond on those charges. Pursuant to Section 17-15-10 and Section 22-5-510 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, the magistrate judge is required to set bond on non-violent offenses, regardless of whether the defendant already has any other pending charges. The fact that Mr. Kelly was on bond for Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature at the time of this arrest does not change this requirement. In accordance with the laws of our State, my staff advised that a bond hearing should be held for the defendant. That being said, the amount of the bond, as well as any special conditions associated with the bond, were solely within the discretion of the presiding magistrate judge.”
"Each magistrate judge has their own discretion when setting bond, so that was the amount I felt was appropriate based on the information given to me by law enforcement," Derrick said.
Again, Derrick says she wasn't told of any kind of connection with the Meadowlake shooting.
In reviewing the case, Senator John Scott was troubled. Scott says with Kelly having been arrested three times in a matter of weeks, he should have been denied bond. So, he decided not to reappoint Derrick to another 4-year term.
"This is not the first time I did not reappoint a judge back," Scott said. "I evaluate a judge, and if I think the judge is not using what I consider to be good judgement, then I won't appoint them back."
"I understand the level of accountability that he has to his constituents, and I'm sure he was faced with a number of questions, lots of concerns," Derrick said. "But at the end of the day, it's only fair to hear both sides of the story, and no one at any time has reached out to me about what was presented to me on Saturday, April 29th."
Tyquan Kelly's bond was revoked and he remains locked up inside the Richland County jail.
As for Derrick's replacement, Scott says an active search is now underway.